Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old
The prompt
“As you grow up and things change, what do you hope never changes about us?”
What to listen for
A specific answer, a habit, a way you show up for them, a sense of humor between you, tells you exactly what's making them feel secure right now, and it's worth holding onto deliberately as things do change.
If they mention something surprisingly small, like a weekly ritual or an inside joke, don't underestimate it, the small things are often what carries the biggest sense of stability for them.
If they say they don't know, that's fine, you could share what you hope never changes about your relationship with them instead, which often opens the door to more.
What this tells you
What they hope stays the same about you shows what currently makes them feel most anchored and secure in this relationship.